Hello 4runner Friends!
I have been reading posts on this awesome forum for quite awhile and have gotten tons of answers and great advice. I just signed up because now I have problem that I have not been able to find answers to and here it is:
Yesterday, I was driving my '04 SR5 up a dirt road in the mountains when I decided that I wanted to be in 4H. I switched to 4H and it took awhile for it to engage, but it eventually did. Then as I was going around a steep corner, it suddenly began to make a funky flapping noise http://im.toyota-4runner.org/images/smilies/doh.gif- in fact, my wife thought it was a tire or a belt (we checked those anyway), but I felt like it was something to do with engaging 4 wheel drive and I think it was coming from directly under the car - no leaks or anything obviously broken there.
I pulled over, disengaged 4wd (quickly and easily popped right out) and 2wd was working fine.
I thought maybe it just didn't engage 4h correctly, so a bit further down the road, I pulled over and engaged 4wd again - this time it popped right in and I was hoping for the best. However, as I drove, a very labored sound - kind of like chugging along with that sort of flapping sound continued - I stray away from saying grinding because It wasn't quite a typical grinding sound. The 4runner seemed to be working really hard and sounded like sh1t. I was afraid to try 4lo or drive any more at that point.
So I immediately disengaged it - popped right out of 4H - and continued to drive for about 3 hours in 2wd without any noticeable issues. I was hoping, in the back of my mind, that I was not doing any damage.
Here is a bit more history in this particular vehicle. I bout it last December with 128k on it in Chicago (now I'm at 138k). It therefore has some corrosion on the bottom. Both of my cv boots are ripped and fairly dry - I know that I have to replace them, but the shop recommended that I wait until the cv axles go out so that I can save up some money for the repairs and get new assemblies installed-could this have anything to do with my problem?
Also, when I bought the vehicle, the shady dealer in Chicago told me that 4lo was engaging correctly and it turns out that it wasn't. I held them to the lie and about $2500 later (they coughed up the money) I had a new 4lo actuator installed by a Toyota Dealer in Colorado. I then drove the vehicle utilizing both 4lo and 4h throughout the summer and thing seemed to be working great all summer. So, could it be related to that repair/issue?
Also, my shocks are shot, but I am saving up for a 3" lift (could use advice on which one to get too), so I haven't replaced them yet.
That is about all I can think of that may be related to this issue.
I sincerely appreciate your expert advice and look forward to hearing ideas from some of you gurus.
Thank you for your time,
Nick
I have been reading posts on this awesome forum for quite awhile and have gotten tons of answers and great advice. I just signed up because now I have problem that I have not been able to find answers to and here it is:
Yesterday, I was driving my '04 SR5 up a dirt road in the mountains when I decided that I wanted to be in 4H. I switched to 4H and it took awhile for it to engage, but it eventually did. Then as I was going around a steep corner, it suddenly began to make a funky flapping noise http://im.toyota-4runner.org/images/smilies/doh.gif- in fact, my wife thought it was a tire or a belt (we checked those anyway), but I felt like it was something to do with engaging 4 wheel drive and I think it was coming from directly under the car - no leaks or anything obviously broken there.
I pulled over, disengaged 4wd (quickly and easily popped right out) and 2wd was working fine.
I thought maybe it just didn't engage 4h correctly, so a bit further down the road, I pulled over and engaged 4wd again - this time it popped right in and I was hoping for the best. However, as I drove, a very labored sound - kind of like chugging along with that sort of flapping sound continued - I stray away from saying grinding because It wasn't quite a typical grinding sound. The 4runner seemed to be working really hard and sounded like sh1t. I was afraid to try 4lo or drive any more at that point.
So I immediately disengaged it - popped right out of 4H - and continued to drive for about 3 hours in 2wd without any noticeable issues. I was hoping, in the back of my mind, that I was not doing any damage.
Here is a bit more history in this particular vehicle. I bout it last December with 128k on it in Chicago (now I'm at 138k). It therefore has some corrosion on the bottom. Both of my cv boots are ripped and fairly dry - I know that I have to replace them, but the shop recommended that I wait until the cv axles go out so that I can save up some money for the repairs and get new assemblies installed-could this have anything to do with my problem?
Also, when I bought the vehicle, the shady dealer in Chicago told me that 4lo was engaging correctly and it turns out that it wasn't. I held them to the lie and about $2500 later (they coughed up the money) I had a new 4lo actuator installed by a Toyota Dealer in Colorado. I then drove the vehicle utilizing both 4lo and 4h throughout the summer and thing seemed to be working great all summer. So, could it be related to that repair/issue?
Also, my shocks are shot, but I am saving up for a 3" lift (could use advice on which one to get too), so I haven't replaced them yet.
That is about all I can think of that may be related to this issue.
I sincerely appreciate your expert advice and look forward to hearing ideas from some of you gurus.
Thank you for your time,
Nick
